I think Cuomo's statement would be more justified on these issues with respect to New York City than New York State. The further upstate one travels from the city or even if one travels to Long Island or Westchester, the statement no longer applies so strongly. Of course there are also conservatives in NYC but not the majority with regard to these social issues. Further, I must wonder how many people across the country want to legalize ASSAULT weapons. While it can be said that Cuomo's use of the word "extremist" does not reflect a desire for dialogue, legalization of such weapons does sound rather extreme. Finally, one should not think all liberals are in lock step with Cuomo: for one thing, his budget cuts have adversely affected education.

Re: Cuomo: No place in New York for ‘extremist’ conservative politicians

Quote:

Originally Posted by meltzerboy

I think Cuomo's statement would be more justified on these issues with respect to New York City than New York State The further upstate one travels from the city or even if one travels to Long Island or Westchester, the statement no longer applies so strongly. Of course there are also conservatives in NYC but not the majority with regard to these social issues. Further, I must wonder how many people across the country want to legalize ASSAULT weapons. While it can be said that Cuomo's use of the word "extremist" does not reflect a desire for dialogue, legalization of such weapons does sound rather extreme. Finally, one should not think all liberals are in lock step with Cuomo: for one thing, his budget cuts have adversely affected education.

In fact, most of NY is very rural, and almost every home in those areas has signs in their front yards saying that they are against the current gun laws.

Re: Cuomo: No place in New York for ‘extremist’ conservative politicians

We [Americans] each have freedom of speech, and the point of this is to have a free marketplace of ideas. What Cuomo is saying is that some ideas are not allowed in that marketplace. People who hold those ideas are not allowed to have the choice to vote for a politician who holds the same ideas they do.

First they pushed Catholic ideas out (except for the ones they agreed with/would garner more votes for them), then they pushed Christian ideas out. Now he wants to push out ideas which relate simply to reality, leaving only those fantasy ideas which relate to his grand utopian ideal.

And every time someone talks about what all this leads to, they are accused of a silly slippery-slope argument and told to stand down since the worst is not happening. And then we slide down the slippery slope a bit and the process repeats itself.

__________________

"The Church is intolerant in principle because she believes; she is tolerant in practice because she loves. The enemies of the Church are tolerant in principle because they do not believe; they are intolerant in practice because they do not love."
-Rev. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P

Re: Cuomo: No place in New York for ‘extremist’ conservative politicians

Quote:

Originally Posted by St Francis

We [Americans] each have freedom of speech, and the point of this is to have a free marketplace of ideas. What Cuomo is saying is that some ideas are not allowed in that marketplace. People who hold those ideas are not allowed to have the choice to vote for a politician who holds the same ideas they do.

First they pushed Catholic ideas out (except for the ones they agreed with/would garner more votes for them), then they pushed Christian ideas out. Now he wants to push out ideas which relate simply to reality, leaving only those fantasy ideas which relate to his grand utopian ideal.

And every time someone talks about what all this leads to, they are accused of a silly slippery-slope argument and told to stand down since the worst is not happening. And then we slide down the slippery slope a bit and the process repeats itself.

Indeed. Aspiring politicians deserve the opportunity to find out for themselves what it is that the electorate wants. Existing laws might preclude certain goals or platforms, but no individual person's opinions should dictate whether or not their ideas belong.

Re: Cuomo: No place in New York for ‘extremist’ conservative politicians

It used to be that extremist conservative views were not defined by pro-life or one believing in marriage as a male-female thingie. Extremist conservative views used to mean Nazis and neo-Nazis.

That is how far left the goal posts in America have now been shifted. Just think about it, even three years ago, even Obama pretended to hold onto those same extremist points of view pertaining to marriage.

Fair enough. If Tea Party is now the extreme right, then that puts the neo-nazis in the extreme left camp, where they should have been all along anyway.

Re: Cuomo: No place in New York for ‘extremist’ conservative politicians

The only poll that seem to hsve done on specific views on abortion restrictions was commissioned by the Chiaroscuru Foundation, which believes 'every life has equal value' and polled by McLaughlin and Associates:

Quote:

According to the survey:

A vast majority of New Yorkers believe (78.8%), when they are informed of the number of abortions in New York, believe there is already sufficient access to abortion in New York State.

A vast majority of New Yorkers believe (78.8%), when they are informed of the number of abortions in New York, believe there is already sufficient access to abortion in New York State.

75% oppose changing the law so that someone other than a doctor can perform surgical abortions

89% oppose abortions for reducing twins or triplets to a single child

92% oppose late-term abortions for sex selection

New Yorkers favor of restrictions on abortion:

87% favor providing pregnant mothers information about options before they make a decision

78% approve of a 24 hour waiting period;

76% approve parental notification when a minor seeks an abortion

68% approve of providing free medical care to mothers carrying their pregnancy to term, and

Re: Cuomo: No place in New York for ‘extremist’ conservative politicians

Here in Upstate NY (the Albany area for me) the demographic has been changing. There are many rural areas of Upstate NY, but many pockets of urban centers. These urban centers have long been Democrat strongholds, with most of the outer suburbs and agricultural towns and villages typically Republican. Now having lived here all of my 47yrs, and having grown up Democrat myself, I've seen a very hard shift to the Left. The Democrats of my father were typical blue collar Catholic types, leaning center-right, family values oriented. As recent as 30yrs ago there were many plants and factories, heavy manufacturing, mills and foundries up here. There was always a "working man's" economy up here, and the various municipalities did well with the tax base provided by the fact that many were gainfully employed. Although predominantly a Democrat state, on a local town/city/village level there was always an ebb-and-flow between Democrat and Republican leadership. Every area has it's challenges of course, but I can say with authority that having this "ebb and flow" back and forth is what made things work well up here. There was never majority Party rule, things do not work well when only one party or group of people have 100% control.
But now the demographic is very hard left in many of the urban centers in upstate NY. That also extends out towards the suburban areas too. The more rural and agricultural towns and villages seem to have held on to more right of center ideas, but as more New York City folks relocate "out to the country" (because property is much more affordable) they bring thier left-of-center ways with them. So politically you have very strong Democrat control not only down in NYC, but marbled within much of Upstate as well. There just aren't enough right-of-center people in the entire State of New York to vote out bad policies anymore.
Now there a many folks who habitually vote Democrat, who do so merely from force of habit. They are not informed of actual issues (not much different nationally) and believe whatever the media tells them. And of course they have been well taught to reject anyone with an "R" in their name (Republican).
If you talk with rank-and-file Upstaters around the kitchen table about issues like abortion, they will honestly tell you they think it is horrible. Many are church going faithful Catholics too, raise their kids Catholic, support their church willingly....and go out and vote Democrat. They are just not getting the message in any venue, whether it be the news media (very left leaning) nor in the Church community.
Now it's no secret either that here in Albany (an urban area of course) the Diocese has always been comfy with the Democrat political machine. The same can be said about most other diocese which tend to be comfy with their urban center Democrat politics. They are sinfully silent on the issues of abortion, and this "turning a blind eye" towards Democrat politicians in general is part of why the faithful are on the wrong path.
Now the GOP up here has also changed, becoming more of a "Democrat-lite". They have been playing second fiddle for so long that they have become the lap-dogs of the ruling Democrats. They get their scraps from the Dems and call it good enough. Perhaps also a mirror of the GOP nationally.
So that leaves the rest of us Conservative, Pro-life, Pro-family Catholics who really have a choice to make I guess. Things can always change of course, but the leftward trend is not over yet. The working man's economy has gone away, no more manufacturing or heavy industries. The "green" technology startups have had their fits and starts, but nothing that has grown real local economies. Many of those urban areas that enjoyed economic success only a few decades ago are crime ridden and depressed. They have a list of social problems not like any fallen city today. Detroit comes to mind, although not as severe, they most certainly trend that way.
And so goes the nation. It is very frustrating however that Catholic Bishops, Priests, and other influential leaders of the Faith tend to give cover to one political party (Democrats), and to Catholic leaders like Andrew Cuomo. The Church should never endorse any one political party; likewise it should not give cover either. It is not a breach of "separation of church and state" for a religous person to come out and say "hey, that is not right". But in my humble opinion, too many Catholic clergy know that much of the Catholics in the pews would walk out if they reprimanded a Catholic like Cuomo. Thus losing dollars in the collection plate. So they remain silent.
And so goes the rest of the nation.

Re: Cuomo: No place in New York for ‘extremist’ conservative politicians

Given the context in which Cuomo was speaking -- a discussion of GOP party politics in New York State -- I think what he meant was that pro-lifers, etc. "have no place" of influence in the GOP and cannot win elections because voters percieve them as too extreme ("that's not who New Yorkers are") I don't believe he, literally, meant "All persons who have pro-life convictions are unwelcome in this state and should pack up and move immediately." However, I also suspect he wouldn't mind very much if they did leave... and chances are they ARE already leaving given NY's recent population losses (it will soon fall behind Florida in population, and probably in a few years, also fall behind Texas).

Living in the rural/small town areas of a state such as NY, CA or IL that is dominated by one or more huge metro areas always presents a dilemma. If most of the state's population is urban, its laws, regulations, and state-run programs will inevitably be organized primarily with their needs in mind. What solution there is, other than 1) the rural part of the state seceding from the urban part to form a new state, or 2) rural people moving to another, more rural state dominated by people more like themselves (e.g. downstate Illinois residents moving to IN, KY or MO), I really don't know.